Sponsored by Nevada State Health DivisionCDC Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism grant # 1U90TP000534-01

Immunizations are FREE of charge (while supplies last) and are available for adults and children six months of age and older. Children under 18 must be accompanied by or have written permission from their parent/guardian.

If you have any questions, please contact White Pine County Community Health Nurse at (775) 293-6558

Helen Pastorino Reck
Helen Reck 84 of Ely, passed away Sunday, September 23, 2012.
A Memorial Celebration will be held on Saturday, September 29 at 1pm at the Ely United Methodist Church, Avenue M. Ely, Nevada.
Friends are welcome to join the family at this time.

In the last six months White Pine News has made exactly $129. That’s it. $129.
Now I get an email from the city. Guess how much our business license fees are? $136.
For me to continue to provide this free service (that a lot of the entrenched, good old boy network DESPISES, because they don’t control what I say) I have to pay more money that we have made!
If you wish to throw us a few dollars as a voluntary “subscription” to keep this going, I won’t stop you. But they won’t stop me. I think you know that by now.
With all the life changes we’ve gone through this year, your support is important, and I thank you so much.
The printed paper runs $39 per year for an issue a week. Some of you have told us you no longer buy the paper. Could you pitch a little bit that you’ve saved in our operating fund?
You can send a check made payable to Wyatt Cox to:
Wyatt Cox
819 Avenue D
Ely, NV 89301

Ely, NV—Members of the Las Vegas Valley Model A Ford Club are scheduled to ride the steam train at the Nevada Northern Railway this weekend. The public is invited to see the cars on display at the East Ely Depot beginning at 2 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 28. There will be approximately nine Model As, dating from 1928-1931. Members of the Las Vegas Valley Model A Ford Club will be riding the 4:30 p.m. steam train on Fri., Sept. 28 and the Taste of Italy Train on Sat., Sept. 29. There are still tickets on sale for the Fri. 4:30 p.m. train. For more information on these historic cars and the Las Vegas Valley Model A Ford Club, contact Carl Harley at (702) 458-0362. (Harley’s car is pictured.)

The much anticipated Haunted Ghost Trains are back beginning on Sat., Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. These continue every Saturday night in October, plus the last Friday, Oct. 26, as well. Costumes are encouraged for all. These trains have been selling out for the past two years and another sell-out is anticipated; get your tickets soon if you want to ride on the most fun and scariest train offered at Nevada Northern Railway. Soon after that is, of course, the beloved Polar Express, licensed by Warner Bros. This train begins running on Nov. 17 and continues on select dates through Dec. 29.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval’s trade mission to the People’s Republic of China has announced two business agreements for companies located in Northern and Southern Nevada. A collaborative research agreement with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) was also expanded.
In a joint venture initially valued at $500,000, Las Vegas-based Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects signed a two-year contract with Shenzhen Investment Holdings Company for the design of the Shenzhen Bay Technology and Ecological City, a business campus in the Chinese industrial mega-center near Hong Kong.

Additionally, under the terms of a distribution agreement, Reno-based confectioner Kimmie Candyis entering the Chinese candy market for the first time.

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Division of Insurance(NVDOI) is seeking public input on what should be included in Nevada’s essential health benefits planunder the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Gov. Brian Sandoval will ultimately decide which of 10 existing health insurance plans now offered in Nevada will be used to determine the essential benefits that will be required in all individual and small group health insurance plans starting on Jan. 1, 2014.

Online Voter Registration System Now Available to All Nevadans
Access to online system expands to last remaining county
Posted Date:9/7/2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Catherine Lu (702) 486-6982 / 334-7953 clu@sos.nv.gov(Carson City, NV; September 7, 2012) — All Nevada residents can now register to vote and make changes to their current voter registration profile through www.registertovotenv.gov and nvsos.gov/votersearch, the online system on Secretary of State Ross Miller’s website. Douglas County joins the other 16 Nevada counties that have access to the system.The Secretary of State Elections Division and the Douglas County Clerk collaborated on the project that allows all voters to have electronic access to their information. To utilize the online system, citizens need to be at least 18 years old and have a Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver’s license or DMV-issued identification card. The application process pulls the signature on file with the DMV and applies it to the voter’s registration record, which will then be used for identification for all future elections.Registered voters can access their voting information at nvsos.gov/votersearch by entering their first and last names, date of birth, and driver’s license number or social security number. From there, they can update their address or change their party affiliation without completing a paper application and submitting it to the Douglas County Clerk.The Secretary of State’s office launched a voter registration application on Facebook last week available atapps.facebook.com/nvsosnova.Eligible voters who are presently registered in another Nevada county but living in Douglas County may now register with the online voter system, which is federally funded by the Help America Vote Act.Residents have until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6 to register by mail or online to vote in the November 6 general election.To find information about registering to vote, visit the “Election Center” on the Secretary of State’s website,www.nvsos.gov, or by clicking here.

So far we’ve received the following feedback on our previous inquiry about Water Bills:

Dear Wyatt: As I understand it, there are a few residents (non-commercial) who are metered. All non-metered, in-city residences should pay the same water/sewer/landfill rates. Outside water is to be charged based on the size of your yard. Please look at the billls carefully. I would be very interested in ANY inconsistency. Please remember that out-of-city water users, for example Mineral Heights residents, pay substantial "surcharges" that were unlawfully increased. Let's see if those $ get refunded. Please keep in touch. Marty Westland (City Councilman)

Wyatt,

I have sent your question on to Jim (Alworth, City Attorney) and Janette (Trask, City Treasurer).

Kevin (Briggs, Ely City Attorney)

Wyatt,

I have to believe that this is dealing with metered water versus unmetered outside water. However I will be asking the City staff to explain why there are differences.

Thanks for the question!

Kevin Robison, (City Utility Board)

No responses from the mayor, the other councilmen or the utility board members. Stay tuned!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Earlier today I received an email from a reader who shall remain anonymous. They asked a question that was so good, I decided to pass it on to several of our City employees, namely:

Mayor Jon Hickman

Councilmen Marty Westland and Dale Derbidge

Utility Board members Kevin Robison, John O’Flaherty, and Lyle Norcross

When (or IF) we get a response, we’ll share them here.

---------------------------------------------------------

Gentlemen,

I received the following email from a reader of WhitePineNews.com. It is a question that deserves a clear answer. Can you explain this clearly?

In the city of Ely, is everyones water bill supposed to be the same? What i mean is, should my bill be the same as Joe down the street or Mary's two miles away, all inside the city.I ask this because there are now over 20 of us that have compared our bills (after the outdoor water over billing in July) and some of us are paying over $100 a month (with one person in the house) to as little as $40 a month (with 5 in the household).

So the basic question is: What variables are in play that create different rates from household to household?

Someone called, claiming that they had written a comment and wanted it published on this blog. I told them how to do it, and they didn’t seem to be very happy with the answer. They demanded that I post their opinion on the blog. I gave them the email address and told them I would consider publication. After about five minutes I placated them and they went away.

Folks, I can’t control the comment system here. If you can’t make it work, please email your comments to whitepinenews@gmail.com and put BLOG COMMENT in the subject line.

Also, to the Gubmint types who keep talking about our blog behind our backs, have some testicular fortitude, Good Old Boy network! Say it in an email to our face!

There is one member of local government who says he will NEVER address criticisms unless you come to HIS meeting and address it to him DIRECTLY. This is the kind of public servant that needs to be sent back home.

ANYONE – including Public Officials – can comment via the comment system or via email. If you choose to sit there and criticize us behind our backs, I’ll ramp up the criticism in a PUBLIC FASHION.

The Ely City Planning commission meets Thursday, 9/27 at 2pm in the Volunteer Fire Hall. Two action items are on the agenda:
3. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
1. Commission Members - Solarus - Discussion/For Possible Action - Approval of Parcel Map for property located on Avenue F between Sixteenth and Seventeenth Streets, Assessor's Parcel Numbers 002-083-08, 002-083-09 and 002-083-10. The property is owned by Wade and Monique Robison.
2. Chairman Flangas - Discussion/For Possible Action - Approval of a Home Occupation Permit to Patti A. Hemdon to conduct a Client In-Home Pet Care, d.b.a. 'No Place Like Home " Critter Care located at 165 JV Walker Street, Ely, Nevada.
The meeting is open to the public.

The Ely Municipal Utility Board holds a special meeting on Tuesday morning, 9/25 at 8am in the Volunteer Fire Hall.

Among items on the agenda are discussion of creating a contingency plan in case of sewer system failure, designing a replacement sewer line across Keith Carson’s property, and to reduce Water Sewer and Landfill rates on an income basis.

Ely, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District, Wells Field Office and Ely District, Schell Field Office are scheduled to begin on or about Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, to gather and remove 200 excess wild horses from the Antelope and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMAs), located about 60 miles south of Wells and 50 miles north of Ely, Nevada. The helicopter gather is necessary to prevent a further decline in animal condition caused by minimal forage growth and reduced water availability due to severe drought conditions.

Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Antelope HMA is 150-324 wild horses. The current population is 468 wild horses. AML for the Antelope Valley HMA is 115-259 wild horses. The current population is 641 wild horses. BLM has been monitoring the condition of the wild horses due to the on-going drought conditions. Wild horses in in the Antelope and Antelope Valley HMAs are in moderately thin to very thin body condition with further declines beyond the point of recovery anticipated if actions are not taken. The affected parts of the HMAs are within the Boone Springs, Valley Mtn., Antelope Valley, West White Horse, White Horse, Sugarloaf, Ferber Flat, Utah Nevada South, Badlands, Goshute Mtn., Deep Creek and Chin Creek Allotments.

Wild horses removed from the range will be shipped either to Palomino Valley near Reno, Nevada, or the Gunnison Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah, to be prepared for the BLM wild horse adoption program or for long-term pastures.

The potential impacts of the actions that will be taken during the gather operations have been analyzed in the Antelope Complex Capture Plan and Environmental Assessment signed in December 2010.

The public is welcome to attend the gather and is encouraged to check the gather hotline nightly(775-289-1880) for departure times and other pertinent information. For additional gather information, including what you need to know before attending the gather and visitation protocols and ground rules, go to http://on.doi.gov/TeQ5Gj.

The White Pine County Commission holds it’s regular meeting on Wednesday morning at 9am in the commission chambers.

Among agenda items are an acknowledgement of Bill Ward’s Open Meeting Law complaint regarding the City and County negotiating the possible merger of the County’s Fire Departments without proper notice. The Attorney General’s office response is available here. No punitive actions were taken against the City or County, but both were strongly cautioned to strictly observe the Open Meetings Law in the future.

The complete agenda is available here, or you may read excerpts following the break.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

September 20, 201237,000 Letters to Salazar (So Far) on NV Water Pipeline

Mike Clifford

LAS VEGAS - With the Bureau of Land Management's window for final comments closing Oct. 1, opponents of the massive Las Vegas water pipeline project are reaching far and wide to plead their case.As of today, says Rob Mrowka, Nevada conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, more than 37,000 letters have been written to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar asking him to deny the Southern Nevada Water Authority's right-of-way request to build the pipeline. Mrowka also is preparing new information for the BLM, but he's not optimistic, saying the bureau has failed to digest the mountains of information on negative impacts it already has."They've done a fairly good job of disclosing all of these hideous impacts that are going to occur. The problem now is that, in making their decision, they can ignore all of those environmental impacts and choose a very damaging alternative."The current BLM plan eliminates drilling in Snake Valley, he says, but opponents say it does little to mitigate environmental damage.Rose Strickland, water campaign coordinator for the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club, says grassroots efforts also are under way to send a message to local decision makers in Las Vegas."This project is a pipe dream; it's an unacceptable financial burden to Las Vegas ratepayers, and it's an environmental disaster for the rest of Nevada."Mrowka says ratepayers' fates may be tied to that of a tiny snail. His group filed suit last week, arguing that the four species of springsnail are under imminent threat from groundwater development."If Fish and Wildlife Service agrees and they are listed, then they become protected under the Endangered Species Act, which will make it much, much harder - if not impossible - to ever develop this groundwater project."Mrowka says the appeals to Salazar will continue right up to the Oct. 1 deadline.More information is online at biologicaldiversity.org.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Ruth Neighborhood Watch will be hosting a presenting by the Eastern Nevada Narcotic Task Force and the White Pine County Sheriff’s Office on the current problem with Methamphetamine Labs sites in our area including public lands.

Romney/Ryan bus will return to Ely next Monday, the 24th at 6:00 PM. It willbe parked in front of our election campaign headquarters next door to theSilver State café. If you missed seeing the bus when it was here earlierthis year, this will be you chance to tour it and take pictures. They willbe bringing Romney/Ryan yard signs and possibly some larger for thehighways.

They were not able to get any candidate(s) on the bus to come to Ely but wewill be able to get the signs everyone has been asking for.

By the way, Maureen Fisher has organized an ice-cream social for Saturdaythe 29th between 1-3 in the afternoon. It, too, will be in the campaign HQ.Thanks, Maureen!

Also, our next meeting will be on Oct. 2, 7:00 PM in the campaign HQ! Try toget there - that is only a month prior to election day and all finalcampaign matters will be in high gear.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Ely, NV—Nevada Northern Railway wants you. There is a serious need for narrators, tour guides, servers and more at the historic railroad. No major time commitment is required. You don’t even have to live in Ely to help; many volunteers are from out of town. If you can work an hour, a day, a month or more, your help is needed. No experience is necessary; volunteers must be 18 or older. Tour guides are needed to take people into the Enginehouse for a tour which lasts 45 minutes to about an hour. Narrators are needed on board the train to read a script telling about the history of the NNRy and the different sites the train passes. Servers are needed to help serve meals on dinner trains, as well as to serve hot chocolate and cookies during Polar Express. Santa Clauses and Santa’s helpers will also be needed during Polar Express, as will narrators to read the beloved children’s story. If you’re more moved by the moving of the locomotives, volunteer opportunities are available in the shop and on train crew, as well. One does not need to live in Ely to be a volunteer. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the railroad directly, toll-free at 866-40-STEAM (866-407-8326) or locally at 775-289-2085 or email to info@nnry.com. Help enhance visitors’ experiences and become a part of history at the same time. Volunteers will become part of a great team, too, and enjoy historic train rides, as well.

The NevadaNorthernRailwayMuseum is a National Historic Landmark, established in 1905; and features approximately 60 acres of original, authentic grounds, track and buildings, and an extensive paper record. The Smithsonian Curator Emeritus considers it to be the best preserved historic railroad “bar none.” It has received worldwide recognition, including several episodes on History’s “American Restorations” and on PBS. It was featured on the July/Aug. cover of Nevada Magazine (www.nevadamagazine.com), in which it was voted “Best Place to Take Children” for six years in a row. In a poll by the Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT), Nevada Northern Railway was voted one of six favorite treasures in Nevada(www.travelnevada.com/discover). Nevada Travel Network awarded it the “2012 Attraction of the Year.” And, says Jim Wrinn, Editor, Trains Magazine, “A place that everyone should go visit... like stepping back in time 100 years ago!"

(Carson City, Nevada)Seat Belt use in Nevada is 90.5% this year as mea­sured by the annual Day Time Seat Belt Use Observational Survey conducted by UNLV researchers during the Click It or Ticket mobilization campaign May 21-June 3, 2012. This survey is conducted annually to determine Nevada’s statewide seat belt use and other related demographics. The 2011 seat belt use in Nevada was measured at 94.1%. The difference in rate may be attributable to the different survey methodologies used in 2011versus 2012, where the methodology was changed to meet new federal requirements. Specifically, the selection of survey counties changed from a population-based to a fatality-based criterion.

High-visibility enforcement such as the Click It or Ticket mobilization has contributed to increasing the national belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to an observed usage rate of 84 percent in 2011 according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Similarly, Nevada’s seat belt usage has increased from 74% in 2002 to the current 90% since it implemented its statewide Click it orTicket campaign. Belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year; in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide, and an estimated 95 lives in Nevada, where an additional 15 lives could have been saved with 100% restraint use.

Last year Nevada lost 62 lives from motor vehicle crashes where occupants were not buckled up.

The national Click it or Ticket mobilization may be over for this year, but that is no excuse to stop using your seat belt. Nevada law enforcement agencies enforce seat belt and other traffic laws continually throughout the year. Don’t forget to buckle up, and please encourage those around you to buckle up, every trip, every time.

The use of safety belts has been identified as the single most effective means of reducing fatal and serious injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Seat belts are effective by protecting occupants from ejection, one of the most severe results of a motor vehicle crash. Victims ejected from motor vehicles are four times more likely to die. Take two seconds to buckle up.

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Ely, NV—A special stamp cancellation designed for the Nevada Railway Symposium will be available on Sun., Sept. 23 on board the Railway Post Office (R.P.O.) car on the 8 a.m. Steptoe Valley Flyer. The pictorial postmark will actually feature the RPO car as part of the cancellation graphics, custom-designed for the Symposium. A representative of the Ely Post Office will be on board the train to handle the special stamp cancellation at 8 a.m. on Sunday. The stamp is available to the general public for a nominal charge.

The 41st Annual Nevada Railway Symposium runs Sept. 20-23. It includes the opportunity to take the throttle of a steam locomotive on Sunday for just $40 for ten minutes. Registration is available online at www.nvrys.com or at the Nevada Northern Railway Gift Shop. There will be a steam wrecking crane demo on the morning of Fri., Sept. 21.

The Steptoe Valley Flyer will take its last run for the season at 8:30 a.m. on Sun., Sept. 23. The most historic train ride will be offered at a regular excursion fare and will not include a meal. It will feature Steam Locomotive 40 and first class seating on Coach 5, along with the RPO Baggage car. It is the original train that carried 4.5 million people, mainly immigrants, into WhitePineCounty between 1910 and 1941. Executive Director Mark S. Bassett, will be narrating the train.

The NevadaNorthernRailwayMuseum is a National Historic Landmark, established in 1905; and features approximately 60 acres of original, authentic grounds, track and buildings, and an extensive paper record. The Smithsonian Curator Emeritus considers it to be the best preserved historic railroad “bar none.”

41st Annual Nevada Railway Symposium

Celebrating 145 Years of Railroad HistoryEly, NV September 20-23 2012

Make plans to now attend this weekend. The symposium will be held at the facilities of the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, NV. If you are not aware of how important the technology of rivets is to building steam locomotives, you should attend Chris De Witt's presentation and demonstration on riveting. ----- If you are aware of how important rivets are to building steam locomotives, then you will not want to miss Chris De Witt's presentation and demonstration on riveting! The lecture will discuss a case study of the conversion of a riveted lap seam locomotive boiler to a riveted double strap butt seam. We'll cover the design, execution, and the approval by the AI of the work performed. In the workshop we will demonstrate the driving of large rivets. We'll look at the tools, sheet preparation, stretch out, hole management, heater rivets, surface moisture, driving and caulking. This is a real hands-on opportunity for willing participants. Hearing protection will be provided to all, eye protection and gloves to participants. Open toed footwear is strongly discouraged in the shop.More information about the symposium, registration, fees, and the optional events can be found at the The Nevada Railway Symposium WebsiteSymposium Lodging Specials: The Hotel Nevada is offering 15% off rooms booked for the symposium. The La Quinta is offering special rates for the Symposium. In both cases you need to mention that you are coming for the symposium. Hotel Nevada 888-406-3055. La Quinta 775-289-8833.Silent Auction: We are still looking for a few more donations for the silent auction. Would you like to donate or sponsor an item? Please call (775) 289-2085

Friday, September 14, 2012

The Southern Nevada Water Authority meet at 9am September 20th. The complete agenda is available from the SNWA Web Page, but the following items appear to affect White Pine County:

3. For Possible Action: Approve a joint funding agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Authority for hydrologic data collection in western Utah in support of the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project.

4. For Possible Action: Approve a contribution funding agreement between the Nevada Division of Water Resources and the Authority for surface water and groundwater data collection services within Nevada to be performed by the U.S. Geological Survey.

5. For Possible Action: Approve a joint funding agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Authority for hydrologic data collection

Ely, Nev. – The public is invited to participate in National Public Lands Day (NPLD) scheduled Saturday, Sept. 29. Volunteers this year will help sort and recycle or dispose of trash in Lusetti Canyon, 20 miles northwest of Ely.

Registration opens at 9 a.m., at a staging area located alongside Steptoe Valley Road. Drive north on U.S. Highway 93. Turn left at Basset Lane and follow the signs. Following an orientation and safety briefing, participants will be transported one mile to the project area. Work gloves and a free T-shirt will be provided.

NPLD is a success nationwide because of the collaboration between federal, state and local agencies, private organizations and individual volunteers. Local partners this year are Camelback Designs, J & M Trucking & Red-E-Mix, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District, Great Basin National Park and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Ely Ranger District. The event is spearheaded each year by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Gus Malon, BLM Ely District outdoor recreation planner, at 775-289-1891 or smalon@blm.gov

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Ely, NV—There are only three more dinner trains remaining for the season at the Nevada Northern Railway. These are the Wild West Steam Dinner Train this Sat., Sept. 15; the BBQ Train (diesel) on Sat., Sept. 22, and the Taste of Italy Steam Dinner Train on Sat., Sept. 29. Both the Wild West Train and the Taste of Italy Train are almost sold out, with only a few seats remaining. The Wild West Train features a cowboy grub meal and special entertainment by the Ghost Riders of Old Ely. The Taste of Italy Train is a fundraiser for the Nevada Northern Railway, sponsored by First National Bank of Ely and the Gianoli family. Bryane Goeringer, owner and general manager of the Jailhouse Motel & Casino, and Cellblock Restaurant, has generously donated to the event as well. Goeringer will be catering the Taste of Italy Train, which will feature a multi-course, classic Italian dinner, complete with Chianti wine. The ‘adult-only’ train costs $59 for adults (13+). Proceeds from the event will help support the Nevada Northern Railway.

The 41st Annual Nevada Railway Symposium takes place Sept. 20-23 and features a variety of speakers and demonstrations, including the firing of the steam wrecking crane. For more details on the Symposium, and to register online, visit www.nvrys.com.

The much anticipated Haunted Ghost Trains are back beginning on Sat., Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. These continue every Saturday night in October, plus the last Friday, Oct. 26, as well. Costumes are encouraged for all. These trains have been selling out for the past two years and another sell-out is anticipated; get your tickets soon if you want to ride on the most fun and scariest train offered at Nevada Northern Railway. Soon after that is, of course, the beloved Polar Express, licensed by Warner Bros. This train begins running on Nov. 17 and continues on select dates through Dec. 29.

LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect fourspringsnail species under the Endangered Species Act. The snails are threatened by a proposed 306-mile pipeline that would carry up to 57 billion gallons of groundwater annually from Nevada’s Great Basin to Las Vegas. The plan could cause the water table in rural Nevada to drop more than 200 feet, drying up the springs that support the snails and countless other species.

“Scientists say this scheme to feed urban sprawl in Las Vegas could drive these springsnails to extinction,” said Rob Mrowka, a Center ecologist. “The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s water grab threatens hundreds of species of native wildlife, and important water supplies for rural residents and future generations.”

In 2010 the Center and allies petitioned for protection for the Lake Valley springsnail, hardy springsnail, flag springsnail and bifid duct springsnail under the Endangered Species Act. The Service determined that the springsnails “may warrant” protection as endangered species but has failed to make a final determination within 12 months, as required.

Springsnails improve water quality by consuming decaying matter and algae and are an important food source for fish, birds and amphibians. Because the snails depend on consistent groundwater flow, any reduction in flow has an immediate impact on their survival.

“Endangered Species Act protection is the only hope for saving these springsnails, which are a unique part of Nevada’s natural heritage,” said Mrowka. “Saving them would also save habitat for many other plants and animals in the Great Basin.”

The final “environmental impact statement” for the pipeline found that up to 305 springs, 112 miles of streams, 8,000 acres of wetlands and 191,506 acres of shrubland wildlife habitat are threatened by the proposal. Pumping could result in a drop in the land surface of more than five feet over 525 square miles, as well as the generation of 34,742 tons of windblown dust per year due to the death of vegetation. The pipeline threatens five national wildlife refuges, two national parks, four state wildlife areas and seven state parks. It is expected to have irreversible effects on agriculture, ranching and rural economies in Nevada and Utah.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 375,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Voter Registration Deadline by MAIL is October 7th! Voter registration Deadline at the Courthouse is October 16th. Register online TODAY at http://www.registertovotenv.gov to make a difference! Usually the Presidential election year spikes turnouts, but this year I expect turnout nationwide to be less than 25%. This election will determine our next United States Senator, House of Representatives member, Nevada State House and Senate members, Justice of the Peace, County Commission, and Television District. This election is about more than the figurehead in the White House. It's about who will have a direct impact on Every Aspect of your Daily Life in White Pine County!Tell your friends that EVERY VOTE COUNTS in this election if we are to send a message to the entrenched elite!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

All White Pine County voters now able to register and make changes to their current voter registration profile online

Posted Date:7/26/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Catherine Lu (702) 486-6982 / 334-7953 clu@sos.nv.gov(Carson City, NV; July 26, 2012) — White Pine County residents can now register to vote and make changes to their current voter registration profile through www.registertovotenv.gov and nvsos.gov/votersearch, the online system on Secretary of State Ross Miller’s website.The Secretary of State Elections Division and the White Pine County Clerk collaborated on the project that allows all voters to have electronic access to their information. To utilize the online system, citizens need to be at least 18 years old and have a Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver’s license or DMV-issued identification card. The application process pulls the signature on file with the DMV and applies it to the voter’s registration record, which will then be used for identification for all future elections.Registered voters can access their voting information at nvsos.gov/votersearch by entering their first and last names, date of birth, and driver’s license number or social security number. From there, they can update their address or change their party affiliation without completing a paper application and submitting it to the White Pine County Clerk.Online voter registration is currently only available to residents with DMV-issued identification in Clark, Churchill, Lyon, Elko, Humboldt, Pershing, Washoe, Eureka, Lander, Nye, Storey, Esmeralda, Mineral and White Pine counties. The Elections Division is collaborating with all Nevada counties to launch online voter registration prior to the general election.Eligible voters who are presently registered in another Nevada county but living in White Pine County may now register with the online voter system, which is federally funded by the Help America Vote Act.Residents have until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6 to register by mail or online to vote in the November 6 general election.To find information about registering to vote, visit the “Election Center” on the Secretary of State’s website,www.nvsos.gov, or by clicking here.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3 out of 4 children are not assecure in the car as they should be because their car seats are not being used correctly.

The Family Resource Center, at 435 South 13th Street, in Ely, will inspect your child’s car seatFREE from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17, through Thursday, Sept. 20, as part of NationalChild Passenger Safety Week.

Because a child safety or booster seat that’s installed and used properly will better protect yourchild in the event of a crash. You can never predict or control what other drivers might do or howthe weather might change the safety of the roadway. The best way to protect your kids is to putthem in the right car seats for their age and size and use those seats correctly on EVERY TRIP,EVERY TIME. By attending the car seat event, parents and caregivers can be sure their kids areriding as safely as possible.

For more information or to make an appointment, call Laurie or Alice at 289-9081

The Ely Municipal Utility Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning, 9/12, at 8am in the Volunteer Fire Hall HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Scheduled items to have been on the agenda follow
1. Board Members -Robinson Nevada Mining Company (RNMC) representative - Discussion/For Possible Action - Update to the Utility Board on the Robinson Nevada Development, Ruth Pit Development and water mitigation efforts within the City of Ely.
2. Board Members - Discussion/For Possible Action - Acceptance of report from Summit Engineering on the City Landfill.
3. Board Members - Discussion/For Possible Action - Approval of Agreement for Services between the City of Ely and Sunrise Engineering.
4. Board Members - Discussion/For Possible Action - Consideration to Lease/Rent a section of the equipment storage area that was used by the City of Ely on 11th Street across from the old City Shop.
5. Councilman Derbidge - Discussion/For Possible Action - Consideration of the update on the sewer line thru Keith Carson's property and the direction the Council needs to take depending on the update.

24-Hour measured rainfall totals across Central Nevada this morning. Some sites have received over an inch of rainfall with additional rainfall expected today. Please post any reports of flooding if traveling through the region today.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Dip It Sweets will begin registration for Kids Cooking classes in the next couple days. Registration will be open until September 25th or Classes are full. Space is limited.If you have any questions please message me.Classes will be at Marie's Cafe in McGill on Monday afternoons at 5pm-6pm for the 4-6 year olds, Friday 8:30am-9:30am for the 7-9 year olds, 9:30am-10:30am for the 10-12 year olds and 9am-10am Saturday mornings for the 13 and up group.This is an eight week course with special focus on sanitation and safety in the Kitchen.Students will attend class once a week and learn basic kitchen skills along with several recipes.At the end of the class students will also be hosting an evening meal they will prepare with the skills they havelearned in class.EACH STUDENT WILL RECEIVE 2 TICKETS FOR GUESTS. ADDITIONAL TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE EVENT.There are 4 age groups available. 4-6 years, 7-9years, 10-12years, 13 and Up.There will be a $15 dollar registration fee. Classes will be $60 a month with ALL SUPPLIES AND INGREDIENTS PROVIDED.UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION, APRON , COOKBOOK, AND RECIPE CARDS.Meranda Harrison775-296-0202meranda@dipitsweets.com*please leave a message with your child's name and age and any other questions you may have.

* AT 535 PM PDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT BETWEEN .75 AND 1.25 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN OVER THE ADVISORY AREA BETWEEN 4:30 AND 5:30 PM THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO BRING ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL TO THE ADVISORY AREA THROUGH AT LEAST 6:30 PM...AND POSSIBLY FURTHER ON INTO THE EVENING.

PONDING OF WATER WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG HIGHWAY 6...APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELY...THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS AS WATER SETTLES ACROSS LOW LYING AREAS. MOTORISTS ALONG THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 6 SHOULD USE CAUTION THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER ON COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

You are cordially invited to attend the next meeting of the White Pine Tourism Council, Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m.The meeting will be held at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum (1100 Avenue A at East 11th Street) in the Men's Waiting Room (through the Gift Shop).

We welcome the input of new and returning participants, as we share thoughts and ideas about working together to make Ely and White Pine County a better place to live. The meetings are a good way to communicate with each other about what we're doing and what's going on around town - and how we can coordinate to maximize potential. The meeting should last about an hour and if you can make it, we'd love to have you join us.

RSVPs are not required but we do appreciate them. Call Dany Feinstein at 289-2085. Also, you are more than welcome to bring along anyone you think may be interested. We look forward to seeing you.

Carson City, Nevada – This September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). The Nevada Division of Emergency Management/Homeland Security (NDEM) has committed to participate in National Preparedness month to increase citizen preparedness throughout the state. The event, now in its ninth year, is a nationwide, month-long effort hosted by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies.

One of NPM’s key messages is: be prepared in the event an emergency forces you to be self-reliant for three days without electricity, water service, access to a supermarket and possibly no assistance from police, fire or rescue teams. Preparing can start with four important steps:

1. Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency

2. Make a plan for what to do in an emergency

3. Build an emergency supply kit

4. Get involved.

Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan. Preparedness information and events will be posted to http://www.ready.gov/community .

“We encourage individuals, communities and organizations to get involved in this effort and take the “Pledge to Prepare,” said Chief Chris Smith with NDEM. “As citizens of this state and the nation, we have a responsibility to take simple preparedness actions to be prepared for a minimum of 72 hours before help may be able to respond. It’s important to have medication, food, water and essential supplies including cash on hand during those initial critical hours,” Smith emphasized.

Social Media Platforms: Facebook, Twitter

For more information about the National Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit http://www.ready.gov/community or call 11-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO, and

The White Pine County Commission meets Wednesday morning at 9am in the County Commission chambers. The complete commission agenda is available at this link, and the action items on the agenda follow the break:

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of east central Nevada and South central Nevada, including The following areas, IN East Central Nevada, White Pine county. In south central Nevada, Northeastern Nye county and northwestern Nye county.

* from noon PDT today through Tuesday evening

* Monsoon moisture combined with unstable conditions will result In scattered to numerous thunderstorms this afternoon and Evening. Showers and thunderstorms will decrease in coverage and Intensity some overnight, BUT Additional rainfall is expected. Numerous showers and thunderstorms will redevelop late Tuesday Morning and continue into Tuesday evening. Some storms will produce Locally very heavy rainfall, WITH Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 Inches per hour from the strongest storms.

* locally heavy rainfall can fill streams and dry washes very Quickly. Streams flowing out of mountains will be very prone To flash flooding. Rock and mudslides will be possible. Burn Scars from recent fires will be particularly susceptible to Rapid runoff or debris flows.

Precautionary/preparedness actions,

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that leadTo flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take actionShould flash flood warnings be issued.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

The Ely City Planning Commission will meet Thursday, September 13 at 2pm in the Volunteer Fire Hall for public hearings and action on the following items:

1. Consideration of a proposed Application for Reclassification of Zoning on Property in order to sell it. The property is located at 1127 Avenue E, Ely. The Applicant is Delroy Thompson.

2. Consideration of a proposed Application for Variance related to setbacks in order to remodel a residence. The property is located at 1217 Avenue H, Ely. The Applicant is Tara Klaas.

3. Consideration of a proposed Petition for Vacation or Abandonment of Road or Easement. The property is located between the west comer at the intersection of O'Neill Avenue and Murry Street and 1440 Murry Street, Ely. The Petitioner is Brian J. Peart.

4. Consideration of a proposed Petition for Vacation or Abandonment of Road or Easement and dedication of land to the City of Ely, all located at 1676 Aultman Street, Ely. The Petitioner is Janet Pescio.

Ely, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District, Egan Field Office is scheduled on or about Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, to gather and remove 100-125 wild horses from the southern end of the Pancake Herd Management Area (HMA) in south-central Nevada, about 30 miles west of Ely and 80 miles northeast of Tonopah, Nevada, that are at-risk of death if they remain on the range. The emergency helicopter gather is necessary to prevent a further decline in animal condition caused by minimal forage growth and reduced water availability due to severe drought conditions.

Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Pancake HMA is 240-493 wild horses. The current population is 1,200-plus wild horses. BLM has been monitoring the condition of the wild horses due to the on-going drought conditions and animals in the southern portion of the HMA are currently in moderately thin to very thin body condition with further declines beyond the point of recovery anticipated if actions are not taken. The affected part of the HMA is within the South Sand Springs and Ike Spring/Ike Bench Use Areas which are part of the Duckwater grazing allotment. The South Sand Springs Use Area has been closed to cattle grazing since 2000 and the Ike Spring/Ike Bench has been grazed only once in 14 years.

The BLM has determined that the potential impacts of the actions that would be taken in this emergency gather have been analyzed in the Pancake Complex Environmental Assessment signed on November 28, 2011. The BLM will therefore prepare a Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) which will be posted on the National NEPA Registrar web page along with the Decision Record for the emergency gather at https://www.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do on or about Sept. 7, 2012.

As many of you know, for the past two years the White Pine Public Museum has been exploring the idea of expanding its facilities to establish a mining wing dedicated to highlighting the mining heritage and history of White Pine County. During the last year, the Museum entered into an option to purchase the former Ely Motor Supply (General Dental) property just west of the Museum grounds. However, after preliminary investigations, it was decided to not extend the option for a second year, but instead concentrate our efforts developing additional facilities on the present Museum grounds while investigating the possibility of acquiring other adjacent property.

During our option period, we have made important friends, discovered resources, obtained professional guidance, and received universal support for the expansion project. In addition, many individuals and local businesses provided financial support for both daily needs as well as expansion expenses. Three mining companies - Quadra (KGHM), Barrick Gold, and Midway Gold - and the Great Basin National Heritage Partnership Foundation, in particular, deserve special thanks for their generous contributions.

So, in order to develop and implement the new expansion plans with the demonstrated community support, the Museum will be holding a special membership meeting on Wednesday, September 12, at 6:00 pm at the Museum located at 2000 Aultman Street. Persons interested in the Museum’s goals and activities—as well as current members-- are encouraged to attend. In addition to regular business items, the agenda will include approval of revision of the Museum By-Laws, election of additional board members by the general membership, and a brief presentation of Museum needs and strategy for the upcoming year.

***NOTICE*** The agenda has been amended. The action item portion following the break reflects the changes

In what was a very quiet action, Mayor Jon Hickman vetoed the City Council’s action at their August 23rd meeting to not refund or credit incorrect charges on city customer’s water bills.

Attempts to reach the mayor for comment have been unsuccessful.

Because the action included affirmation of the increases and admissions of error in the overcharges, all the items have been reagendized for the Thursday September 13 City Council meeting, including an item to attempt to override the Mayor’s Veto. The action portion of the agenda will follow the break.